Vehicle lighting device



m. 1H. HARVEY VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 8 1921 mWWWWw tli llatenterll tirl lltilllilll ldtihlhlwlt'll, till? tllllilflll lllld lllt, @litll'd.

application tiled august it, met. aerial lilo. imam.

F0 all whorl it may concern I Be it lrnown that l, (innate ll.ltlanvnir, a citizen ot the lUnited States, residing at tincinnati, inthe county ot Hamilton and litate ot' '(line, have invented certain newand usetul improvements in Vehicle Lighting ltl llll

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accessible to the driver, tor care or adjustment, or manual operation;and to malre the installation convenient and well within the albilityoil. a person unskilled in mechanical construction or assemhlage. Uther'ohjects will appear in the course ot the ensuing description. I

ll attain these objects hy the device illustrated, tor example, in theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of part of a motor vehicle with myinvention installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, enlarged, taken trom the trout ol the steeringpost, showing how the switch is installed thereon, in son- I junctionwithv the steering wheel, parts of till till

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which are hrolien away for lack of space;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, from the left side ot the vehicle,turther'illustrating this switch mounting; 1

Fig. 4t is a detail lront view ot the switch with its casing removed,showing its interior details;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane oil the line 5-5 ot' Fig. 4i,hut with the casing in place Fig. ti is adetail side elevation 'ot theswitch and adjacent parts oil the steering post and steering head, theswitch casing heing omitted, as in Fig. l;

Fig. 'l is'a diagram oil the electrical connections;-andFigs. h, 9M0 andll are perspective views similar to Fig. 2. illustrating dillerentstages ot the operation ot the switch in conjunction with the operationot the steering wheel and head,

lln the present erainple, lamp-casingsl are mounted hy means ofuniversally swivelling connections 2 on the outer end parts ot brackets3, which have jaws t by which they are clamped to respective oppositesides of the wind-shield 5 of the vehicle, as shown in Fig.1. ll preterto have these lamp-casings constructed so as to he readily assemhledwith their connections 2 and with well known incandescent electric lampssuch as are used on vehicles; and to have retlectors comprised in thesecasings which will afford a relatively wide distribution ot the raysfrom the lamp. This lamp construction and mounting heing the subject ota separate invention, however, which, while preterahle in connectionwith the present invention, is

not essential thereto, it is not disclosed in detail herein.

.lhamp cords, each ,consisting ot two conductors, lead trom therespective lamp-casings it, ,it being understood that the casing in eachinstance is arranged so that each conductor connects with a respectiveterminal ot the lamp therein, as indicated in Figj't'. Thus, from theleft-hand lamp-casing 1, the conductors t5 and 7 lead; and

from the right-hand lamp-casing l, the con ductors 8 and 9 lead Bothconductors 6 and 8, from the opposite lamps, are connected to onebattery terminal 10, or to one terminal of any equivalent source ofelectrical energywith which the vehicle is provided; the other terminal,or. pole of this current source being connected, usually, to the generalmetal structure of the the vehicle, or, as it is termed, grounded.'lhus, as

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seen inrFig. 1, these conductors 6 and 8 connect to the terminal ltl'onthe coil hon 11 in the cowl ot the vehicle; in practice, theseconductors '6 and 8 are in a single piece, continuous trom one lamp tothe other, with the insulation removed tor a short space to connect atthe terminal 10. ln Fig. 7, the battery 12 will he understood torepresent either a primary or sec -ondaryhattery, a magneto, a dynamo,or

any other current source encountered.

The other two conductors. 7 and 9, oil the respective lamps lead torespective terminals 13 and it ot the switch, which is on the steeringpostl5 ol the vehicle, upclose to the steering head lti, or huh ol. thesteering wheel 17, thereof. it is the purpose of this switch toautomatically ground, or connect with the atoresaid opposite teral atthe ltd lltld lltll current source 12, either. one of the other 8 1comprises a base block 18 elongated up and down, and,channeled on itsback 19, fitting snugly on and partly around the front of the steeringpost 15, with an insulatin sheet 20 between it 'andthe post. A ban 21 isfixed to this block 18, in a groove transversely across'its channeledback 19 about midway of its height; this band 21 bending around the post15 in both directions, to the rear thereof, with extensions 22 of theinsulating sheet 20 between them and the post. Atthe back of the post,these band parts are bent outward close to their ends, and a bolt 23 ispassed through these bent-out parts, clamping-the band 21 tightly aroundthe post 15 and, rigidly mounting the block 18 thereon, with *the blockinsulated from the post. A short distance to one side ofthe block 18,the insulating extension 22,

has an opening 24, and a screw 25 is tapped through the band 21, to makecontact with the surface of the steering post 15 through this opening24; the screw having a head 26 for ready turning with thumb and finger,and the tip of the screw being enlarged inside the band 21, as at 27(Fig[ 6,) to prevent entire unscrewing from the band 21.

The front of the block 18 has a shoulder 28 just above its middle, bymaking the lower part of the block thinner than, the upper part; andagainst the front of this thinner "lower part, up against the shoulder28, is fitted an insulating block 29, held by a single screw 30 near itscenter, extending back therethrough into the base block 18; theshoulder28 preventing turning of this insulating block 29. It is on this block29 that the terminals 13 and 14 of the switch are mounted; theseterminals being screws tapped into the insulating block 29 but notextending therethrough into contact with the base block 18. Eachterminal or screw 13 or 14 holds a respective tongue 31 or 32 on-theblock 29, under the end part of the respective conductor 7 or 9, whichis bent around the screw under a washer33 or 34,

in a well known manner. Shortly above these screws 13 and 14 are screws35 and 36, passing out through the insulating block 29 and tappedthrough the respective tongues 31 and 32; the heads of these screws '35and 36 being flat and countersunk into the inner side of the block 29 toavoid con: tact with the base block 18. Thus, the tongues 31 and 32 areheld tightly on the front of the block 29 and prevented from movingsidewise, by the two screws in each one. The crews 35 and 36 project outconsiderably past the fronts of the tongues;

and each tongue extends up above the top of the block 29, to about thelevel of the top of the base block 18; being bent forward to a slightdegree in its upper end part 37.

These switch tongues 31 and 32 are spaced transversely across the block29, leaving space for insertion of the screw 30 at the middle of theblock.

Near the top of the base block 18, on the front face thereof, thestar-wheel or radiated member 38 is journaled on a screw 39 tapped intothe block 18, at the middle, with a spring-washer 40 against its front.This wheel 38 comprises four arms 41, 42, 43 and 44, radiating from itshub; each arm being designed somewhat as a gear tooth. Three of thesearms, 41, 42 and 43, are substantially entirely within the plane of thewheel hub, swinging close to the front face of the block 18, well awayfrom the tongues 31 and 32; but the fourth arm 44 has a compound bend sothat its end part is offset forwardly and ,will make firm contact witheither tongue 31 or 32 when swung around thereto. The wheel 38 isjournaled high enough for each arm to swing substantially entirely abovethe top of the base block 18 in the uppermost quarter of the swing ofthe arm as the wheel rotates. The switch-casing 45 is a plate bent intoa channel, with the channel sides extending back and flanking the sidesof the base block 18 and insulating block 29; these sides being fastenedto the base block 18 by screws 46 passed through the sides into theedges of the block near the top and bottom thereof. These sides hold thefront of thiscasing 45 well forward from the terminals or screws 13 and14, and from the upper parts of the tongues 31 and 32; the casing 45endiifg above and below substantially even with the top and bottom ofthe base block 18. Screws 47 and 48 are tapped through the front of thecasing 45 and through a small reinforcing strip 49 inside .thereof:these screws being located to corn tact with the tips of the outwardlypassed screws 35 and 36, respectively, in the tongues'31 and 32, when"screwed inward. They are similar to the screw 25, with beads 50 forturning them..

Near the bottom of the steering head or steering wheel hub 16, a band51, similar to the band 21, passes around the hub 16, with a strip ofinsulating material 52 between 1 it and the hub, and with bent-out partsat the rear,having a bolt 53 passed through them, tightly clamping theband around the hub. However, before completely clamping this band,trip-brackets 54 and are slipped behind the band at the front, a shortdistance to the right and left, respectively, of the front uprightcenter line of the switch and its wheel 38, Each bracket 54 or 55comprises an upper lug 56 to lie under naaaaao out over thetop edge olthe band, and. a.

1 lower lug 58 to extend down below the botltl Std

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tom ot the hub to and extend torward to engage with the arms of thewheel 38 upon rotation ot the hub to a material steering distance to thelet't or right Such a bracket is readily made ot a sheet metal blank otlt-shape, with the bottom ot the l... bent at about right angles to theupright thereot', as seen in the drawing.

'lhe radiated member or wheel 38 is set with its bent arm all uppermostwhen the steering wheel and its hub it are in the position to steer thevehicle straight ahead, and, the brackets 54L and 55 are positioned atthe right and let't, respectively, on the hub. to while in thisposition, tar enough trom the arm at not to materially shitt this armand the wheel 38 upon the slight involuntary or incidental turnings otthe steering wheel which are practically unavoidable in driving thevehicle, but close enough to the arm ll to engage and push the arm overto the let't or right upon a material turning of the steering wheel inthat direction, purposely to steer the vehicle in that direction.

The normal straight-ahead positions. ot' the parts is seen in Figs. 1to'l. lln Fig. t is seen their positions upon a material steeringmovement ot the wheel and its hub 16 to the right, it being rememberedthat Fig.

t is a treat view, with the lett ot the vehicle at the reader s right.lt will be seen that the lett-hand bracket 5t has pushed the arm d loverand down to the right, tot the vehicle) where this arni all makescontactiwitli the right-hand switch tongue 32. Referring to the diagramolf' Fig. 7, it can be seen that this will pass current from source 12,through conductor 8, lamp in right-hand casing 'l, conductor 9,terminalit and tongue 82,, arm at, base 18, band at, and screw E25, toground or other terminal of current source 12, through steering-post 15and the connected general metal structure ot' thevehicle. lhus theright-hand lamp will light the roadway at the right of the vehicle assoon as steering begins to the right.

lit the curve of vehicle travel is to be oh large radius, a turning otthe steering wheel l7 and huh it through a relatively small I anglesufitices; and upon completing the lid ch rve and restoration of thesteering parts to straight-ahead positions, the left-hand bracket 5tthat pushed the arm at to the right will engage with the arm 43 thatbecame uppermost (Fig. a). troin'the steering operation, and, will pushthis arm t3 over and down to the left (oil the vehicle) and thus bringthe bent arm it again to upright mid-position, out of contact with theright hand switch tongue 39?, breaking the circuit just described, andextinguishirig the light no longer needed. t like operation would occurupon steering to the lett; the right over and down to th left, to makecontact with the lett-hand St itch tongue at, completing a circuitthrough the source 12, conductor t}, left-hand lamp, conductor 7,terminal l3 and tongue 3t, a-rni l t, base ltl, band 2i, and screw 25,to source it) through post 15 and connected parts. Then the bracket 5twould act with the arm at on return.

For a curve of small radius to be followed by the vehicle, it isnecessary to turn the steering wheel 15 and its hub 16 through a greaterangle; the maximum being 360", or a complete revolution of these parts,for the sharpest turn, on practically all vehicles. it provide "tor thissubstantially 360 of turn ing of these parts by the addition ot the arm42 opposite the arm let; this arm operating as seen in Figs. 9, l0 andIll. 'llhus, in Fig. 9, the wheel 17 has been turned almost 360 to theright, so that the righthand bracket 55 is passing over the switch. lithas engaged the arm t3 that was brought up at the beginning ot' thesteering wheel turning as be'tore described, and has pushed till thisarm t3 over and down to theright (oil I the vehicle) and brought up thenext arm t2, while the bent contact arm ll has been swung tarther down,still contacting, however, with the tongue 32 down close to the basethereot, the lower parts of these tongues being made amply wide toprovide for this. Consequently, the circuit tor the right-hand lamp isstill closed, and the right of the roadway still lighted, as required.This condition will continue, as the tull 360 turning ot the wheel 17 iscompleted, as will be understood trom Fig.9.

Now, when the vehicle turning is com; pleted, and the steering parts areto he brought back to straight-ahead positions,

tinue until the steering wheel 17 has beentnrned back through most otthe 360, to i the position ot Fig. 11:; it being understood thatthisreturn usually is made comparatively quickly, ,totake up thestraightway Mill ltltli llll travel. now that the sharp curve has beenrounded. lllowever that may be, when this almost complete return hasbeen attained, the 'lett-hand bracket 54L now will engage with the arm43, the same as it only a small turn ot the steering wheel 17 had beenmade; this arm t3 having been brought uppermost by the engagement of therighthand bracket 55 with the arm 42 at beginliltll ning of return fromthe extreme position,

as in Fig. 10. The left-hand bracket 54 will now push the arm 43 overand down to the.

' left, bringing the bent contact arm 44 uppermost, to the middle, outof contact with the'right-handtongue 32, breaking the circuit andextinguishing the right-hand lamp,

.brought uppermost at the inception of the turning, being engaged by theleft-hand bracket 54 as nearly 360 of turning is completed, thusbringing up the arm 42, to be' pushed down to the ri ht upon return ofthe bracket 54, again raising the arm 41, to serve as the armf- 43 didin the right-hand turn, for restorin the bent arm 44 to uprightnon-contacting position in the final return stage. In that way theleft-hand lamp would be lighted throughout the lefthand steeringoperation and return there from, and be extinguished as soon "as thanfar out in front, as are" the usual headof the operation of the Wheel38.

straight-ahead positions are again'reached.

The spring washer 40 aflords sufficient frictional resistance to holdthe wheel n any position to which it is set by the brack ets 54 and 55in any of the described operations. The slight forward bends ofthetongues in their upper end parts. 37 freely- .admit the bent arm 44.of the wheel 38,

which arm 44 preferably is made somewhat concave on its front face,-forthe same reason. The arm44 ishent forward far enough -'to slightly forcethe tongue 31 or 32 forward, making firm electrical contact.

When the screw 25 is screwed out in the band 21, away from thesteering-post surface, the circuit is broken even if the arm 44doescontact with a tongue31 or-32. Thus the device can be renderedinoperative when traveling in "daylight, or on well lighted streets orroads at night. If either one of the screws 47 or 48 is screwed in sothat it contacts with the screw 35 or 36, respectively, the left orright-hand lamp'is lighted, as the case may be, independeikiltly T us,thedriver can light the roadway at right or left without turning thevehicle in that direction, or while the vehicle is stopped.

This is conwenient for. reading signs or guide-posts along a dark road,for example.

.I also add to this convenience by locating the-lamps back near thedrivers seat. rather lights, or as are any prior side-lights for thepurpose of lighting the roadside in conjunctlon with steering operation,within my &

knowledge. By. locating the lamps thus, in

a device of this character, directing them slightly downward, acorrespondingly larger field of illumination is provided, than withlamps mounted far forward, nearer theground. And for observation at theroadside with the aid of these lamps, an illumination field of a givensize is brought nearer to the driver; so that it is not necessary tomake the observation at such a distance in order to obtain the desiredsize of illumination field.

The screws 25 and 47 and 48 for manual control are all within very easyreach of the driver, as is the entire apparatus, including the lamps,when located as shown, or as just pointed out. Also, the entireequipment is in a protected part of the vehicle, close to the usualcurrent source, requiring a minimum of wirin and connections. Theswitch, and the bra"kets 54 and 55, are readily attached and adjusted,even by an unskilled person; and once adjusted, are not easilydisplaced.

The construction of the switch disclosed is adapted for the use of metalas the material of the base block 18 this being preferred owmanualoperating screws 47 and 48. Similarly, the insulating strip 52 isprovided entirely throughout the band 51 that attaches the brackets 54and 55 to the hub 16, because these brackets referably are of metal, andthey contact with the bent arm 44 while it contacts with either tongue31 or 32, which would result in lighting one or the other lampindependently of the screw 25, when Y the latter is out of contact withthe steermg post 15, in daytime, or at other times when lighting is notdesired. This strip 52 also affords the desired friction between it andthe hub 16, and the brackets 54 and 55.

The strip 22 similarly provides the desired v holding arrangements maybe provided;for

instance, the brackets 54 and 55 may be individually insulated, or theymay be made of non-conducting material.

In any event, it is desirable that these brackets 54 and 55 beseparately adjustable around the hub 16; as different vehicles requlredifferent ranges of movement of the steering means before lighting iseffected, requiring the brackets to be different distances apa'rt.- Oncethe required distance is found, the switch can be adjusted to one sideor the other on the steering post 15, should the bracket adjustment,when reached,-fai1 to have the wheel 38 substantially midway betweenthem .at straight-ahead position. The

Q partsmay be adjusted ltl other, and engaging means carried rats l. ina vehicle-lighting device, in combination with a vehicle, asteering-member on said vehicle, and a plurality of lamps on saidvehicle, movable larnpcontrolling means llighting one lamp or the otherupon a requisite movement in one direction or the by saidsteering-member momentarily engaging with said controlling means duringsteering movement in either direction and imparting said movemet to saidcontrolling means in one direction or the other entirely during themomentary engagement.

9,. in a vehiclelighting device, in combination with a vehicle, asteering-member on said vehicle, and a plurality oil lamps on saidvehicle, movable lamp-controlling means, and a lurality oi engagingmeans carried by sai steering-member, out ot engagement wi "b saidcontrolling means during steering in general straightahead direction,but one or the otherot said engagin means all said steering memberengagingwith said control ling means during steering movement in till 'controlling during steering tionor the other,

one side direction or the other, to move said means in one direction orthe other to light one or the other of said lamps.

3. la a vehicle-lighting device, in combination with avehicle, asteering-member on said vehicle, and a plurality oil lamps on saidvehicle, movable lamp controlling means having aplurality oi engagingparts, and a plurality all engaging means carried by said ateeringmemberout at engagement with said controlling means during steering in generalstraightahead direction, but succe sive engaging means otsaidsteering-member engaging with successive ones oi said parts movement inone side directo move said controlling means in one direction or theother to light one or the other oi said lamps.

l. in a vehicle-lighting device, in combig nation with a vehicle, asteering-member on said vehicle, movable lamp-controlling mean tltllighting one lamp or the other upon movement in one direction or theother, engaging means carried by said steering-member, mo-

mentarily engaging with said controlling means to light one ing movementin means carried by at said lamps upon steersaid steering-mohair, mo-

prising a rotary member having a plurality one direction, engagingmentarily engaging with said controlling means to light the other lampupon steering movement in the other direction, and means whereby saidengaging means may be adjusted relatively to each other and to saidcontrolling means.

5. in a vehicle-lighting device, in combination with a vehicle, astationary steering post on said vehicle and a steering wheel on saidsteering post, a plurality ot' lamps on said vehicle, movablelamp-controlling means on said steering post, near said steering wheel,lighting one lamp or the other upon a requisite movement in onedirection or the other,-and engaging means carried by said steeringwheel, momentarily engaging with said controlling means during rotationof said steering wheel in either direction and imparting said movementto said controlling means inone direction or the other entirely duringthe momentary engagement.

ti. in a vehicle-lighting device, in combination with relatively movablesteering parts, a switch on one of said parts, com- 0t arms, and atongue to be contacted by one of said arms, and engaging means on theother part to engage with ditlerent ones oi said arms to rotate saidmember and make or brealr contact of said arm with said tongue.

7. in a vehiclelighting device, in combination with relatively movable"steering I a switch on one o't'said parts, comprismm arms, and a pairoil tongues to be contacted parts, ing a rotary member having aplurality ot' alternately by oneot said arms, and a plurality oilengaging means on the other part to engage with diderent ones at saidarms to rotate said ember in one direction or another upon steeringoperation oi said vehicle in onedirection or another and malre or brealrcontact o'l said arm with one or the 1 other oil said tongues.

8. lo a vehicle-lighting device,-in combination with relatively movablesteering parts, a switch on one ot said parts, comprising a rotarymember with a plurality at arms, and a pair of tongues to be contactedalternately by one at said arms, and engag ing means on the other part,at opposite sides oi said one oi said arms when this arm .is in contactwith neither tongue, one or the other oil said engaging means, uponsteering movement one way or the other, being adapt- 0 fed to engagewith this arm to move this arm said vehicle, and a plurality oil lampson into-contact with a respective tongue, and to engage one or the otherot the non-eon nient. f y

9, in a vehicle-lighting device. in combination with relatively movablesteering parts? a switch on oneot said parts, comprising a rotary memberwith apluralityot till led

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arms, and a pair of tongues to be contacted alternately by one of saidarms, and engaging means on the other part, at opposite sides of saidone of said arms when this arm is in contact with neither tongue, one orthe other of said engaging means, upon steering movement one way or theother, being adapted to engage with this arm to move this arm intocontactwith a respective tongue, and to engage one or the other of twoof the non-contacting arms to move said contacting arm out of contact,upon return from said. movement, the opposite one of said engagingmeans, upon continuation of said steering movement, being adapted toengage one of the aforesaid non-contacting arm, further moving saidcontacting arm in contact with the tongue and bringing a thirdnon-contacting arm into the vpath of said en aging means, this oppositeengaging means ing adapted to engage with this third non-contacting arm"upon return from the continued movement, to restore the pre viouslyengaged non-contacting arm to said path, to be engaged by thefirst-engaging means as aforesaid-upon further return from a saidmovement. a t

10. In a vehicle-lighting device, a switch comprising a pair of tonguesand a pluralarmed rotary means between said tongues,

said tongues and said rotary means, and a movable contact member on saidsupport to connectwith one of said tongues independently of said rotarymeans.

.12. In a vehicle-lighting device, a. switch comprising a pair oftongues anda pluralarmed rotary means between said tongues, one of thearms contacting with one or the other tongue upon rotation of said meansone way or the other, means for mounting said rotary means and saidtongues on one member of a steering mechanism, a pair of engaging means,and'means for mounting these means on another member of said steeringmechanism for movement by said mechanism to engag e with successive armsof said rotary means.

GERALD H. HARVEY.

